Character-transmission means for traveling message signs



June 26, 1962 l. NAXON 3,041,597

CHARACTER-TRANSMISSION MEANS FOR TRAVELING MESSAGE SIGNS Filed June 26, 1961 Jlllllllllllllllllllll'lllllll'I INVENTOR.

IRVING NAXON 5,

ATTORNEYS- United States Patent 3,041,597. CHARACTER-TRANSMISSION MEANS FOR TRAVELING MESSAGE SIGNS Irving Naxon, 3600 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago 45, Ill. Filed June 26, 1961, Ser. No. 135,091 Claims. (Cl. 340-339) The present invention deals with means for interpreting character formations in the tapes of traveling message signs in a manner to portray such formations in the sign, this subject being treated in the Nachumsohn Patent No. 2,006,999 and the Newton Patent No. 2,817,703. The message tapes are formed with perforations arranged in character-forming relation. Fundamentally, perforations occur in tape readers or transmitters employed in printing telegraphy and related arts, where the tape perforations occur in Baudot or other coded forms. In these forms each transverse row of perforations comprises a complete character or signal. On the other hand, in the patents referred to the message tape departs from codes unfamiliar to and unreadable by the average person, and employs known letters and symbols familiar to any typist or sign electrician and of a character to be duplicated exactly in the traveling message sign. A step-by-step feed of the message tape produces successive cross-rows of perforations which combine in groups to form the message letters, with the exception of the letter I which is of course contained in a single cross-row. The electric sign letters are therefore reproduced in the character formation of the message tape.

The technique illustrated in the second-named patent for reading the tape perforations comprises a series of fingers arranged transversely of the tape, so that the cross-rows of perforations register in single order with the finger series as the tape is fed intermittently in longitudinal direction. While this type of transmission is efficient in principle,- it is unsuited for rapid operation. Functional problems and disadvantages arise in such event as a result of inertia and wear incident to the mechanical fingers, since the longitudinal separation of the tape perforations creates solid material between them and a corresponding interruption of electric current as such material passes each cross-row of perforations. To illustrate, five successive tape impulses are required to produce the top bar of the letter T during the step-by-step feed of the tape and the corresponding action of the electromagnets 12 and 12a illustrated in the second-named patent. As translated in the operation of the traveling message sign, the action at a rapid rate develops mechanical errors and electrical reactances productive of inertial sluggishness in the operation of the message sign.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide means in the transmission apparatus for causingan elongation of the signal occasioned by a group of successive impulses, so that a series of short signals is replaced by one longer signal. The top bar of the letter T may be formed by one long signal in the magnets 12 and 12a of the second-mentioned patent instead of five shorter ones.

Another object is to so arrange the light-passing perforations in the message tape, or otherwise control the light beams, to effect the desirable combining and overlapping of signals occasioned by longitudinally adjacent perforations, so that light beams occurring between any two transversely adjacent tape perforations are concentrated or shrunk to create a comparatively wide gap or underlapping between transversely adjacent light beams. A .still further object is to effect an improvement in traveling message signs by using a tape having uncoded and directly readable characters perforated thereon in combination with photo-optical reading means, and with a different spacing of the perforations in the tape to effect Patented June 2.6, 1962 a faster response and better functioning of the receiving apparatus. As will be noted in the first-named patent, the spaces between longitudinally adjacent perforations is much greater than between transversely adjacent ones. By spacing adjacent perforations uniformly in both directions, or even favoring by a slightly closer distance the space between any pair of perforations in a longitudinal row, and further combining this feature with a photo-- optical readout system which still further tends to exaggerate this diflerenceas if the transversely adjacent perforations were still further apart, while the longitudinally adjacent per-forations read as if they were virtually run togetherthe functional response of the message-storing and lamp-flashing apparatus will be greatly improved.

Unlike the conventional light-slit between a lamp and photo-cell in a motion picture sound projector where the light aperture is a slit made very narrow in relation to the direction of travel of the film while maintaining a comparatively large dimension in relation to the width of the film, I have found in applying photo-cell reading apparatus to the mechanisms employed in flashing the lamps of traveling message signs that an important improvement is effected in the performance of the entire impulse receiving, storing and lamp-flashing apparatus This improved performance and result are especially noticeable when telephone lines are employed between the transmitter and the electric selective apparatus located at the sign. Moreover, with my improvements the number of transmission errors is greatly reduced, especially when the lines employed have an abnormally high capacitative reactance.

The high capacitative reactance of modern metallic telephone circuits, due to the large number of conductors in and compactness of underground cables, becomes an objectionable factor in remote-control sign operation, especially at higher transmission speeds. In this area of operation objectionable cross-talk or interference from and into adjacent cable conductors must also be con sidered. It should be noted, therefore, from the very make-up of the alphabet block letters that the transverse rows of perforationssuch as for example the two vertical sides or the complete transverse row in the letters I, T, H, M, L, N, etc. are spaced a few intervals away from a similar partial or complete transverse row. In order to create a simple block-letter type of alphabet for a traveling message sign, it should be observed that apart from an occasional diagonal line or connecting symbol the alphabet in the main comprises longitudinal and transverse lines or bars made up of groups of illuminated lamps on the sign and corresponding groups of perforations in the tape. However, the longitudinal rows, such as the top, middle or bottom bars of letters T, E, L, H, etc. are transmitted by signals in immediate and rapid succession. Therefore, the cross-talk or noise induced into adjacent lines would be much more objectionable if a single longitudinal ba-r were produced by five short onoif impulses, as against a single on-oif signal having onefifth its frequency.

In accordance with the foregoing, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawingfln which FIG. 1 is a schematic View of the transmitter incorporating an electric circuit;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged sections on the lines 2-2 and 33 of FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a magnified fragmental top plan viewof the message tape; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on a reduced scale and similar to FIG. 2, showing a modification.

Specific reference to the drawing shows that FIG. 1 follows the arrangement of FIG. 7 in the second-named 3 patent; and similar parts have identical reference numerals. Thus, the magnet is shown at 29, its armature at 37, the pawl at 35, the armature draw-spring at 38, the pawl draw-spring at 39, the ratchet Wheel at 34, its teeth at32, andtlie feed pins for theinessagetape 42' at 3 3, These parts are nw containedtin a hous'ingiia having a top 3"overwhich the messagetape 42 is slid'able. The: top3 ha 's'upward supports 3b'(se'e FIG. 2 for a trans verselyfpbsitioned 'casing 6' having a' bottom 14 spaced froni'fthe top'3 'for the passage of the tape 42. Th'boF tori'i 14' 'is 'extended forwardly and rearwardly with a shield 66: fol-the tape, such shield having an intermediate arbh' 18*to cI'ear' the'feed pins 33 of the ratchet wheel'34f "FIGS; 1 and'Z show that the casing np'o'ntains a trans-f versely positioned electric" lamp 7, and receives a cover 10 formed with ventilating louvers 1 1. The bottom 14 of the'casinghas a pair" of narrow slots 13, these being in transverse alinement as shown in FIG. 2. This'fig lre also shows that" are tape 42 has a tra'nsverse' row of charaeter-fermingfa ermres 15 directly under theslots 13. Siich'row' has four perf ration-s'under one of the slots, andthreefperforations under the other slot. The perforation: rows represent the vertical i bar s of alphabet letters, nuiiier'als'orot-hencharacters; and FIGIS shows the aper turs'farr'angedto form the 'letter H. A longitudinal series dfis'hiall perforation 17 is made in the center region of'thetape 42 to receive the tape feed pins 33.

The translation of the character formations in the tape 42 into electrical impulses is now accomplished hyphoitoelectric means. Thus, the housing top 3 has a series of vertical bofe'jS in registration was the tape perforations 15, shoh bores being or less diar'neter thari those "of the" perforations; 'Thebores 5 receive ghtro ds 2 6t transparent' plastic substance from below and t6 '1 ara-area tent; and each rod carries a photo-cell ,1 at its lower; end.

the Bones 5 are rather closet'o each other, there ma y befin iii t foom to positio ri cells 1 vertically ini a'tra'nsve e row; "I'hey are therefore grouped in closely-' staggered fo i'rnition by being.defieetedoutwardly, as seen inFIGS. 1 and 3f 'I he light ro ds, bores and adjoining metal surfaces have a dull black coating to prevent leaky agehrirefleicted light. from cans in g nndesirable stray lightrays'. 'A siiitablel lens system: 1(notsh'own) may beern pl fyed between the light soiircesshown and the photowere; 'lt'g followsfromthe above description that light in the. a fi i pass hmu t e s 13 an 1 .1 re s: 11i ,flieme's as t jr s f 'qm iQ r st a i n w th; the lots, thenceinto the'rods whereit'willbe fbentf; (Magic t e an a rit i h iw t l hb c l use 9 9i ndi ae i cui s n th manne OfItheI WQI' Q 1 n hej q a amsd .P tent per te an eleetricunit 21 and atransrnitteriifl It .is :noted' in the latter that the carni26 and switch 27 of the second-named pateht are replaced .byiaf lamp 275:, fed"frorri a current source 27, whose light is casfthrough a slot'26 ina"ro tary disc 25 10 energize a separate photo-cell 28-, w ich Q jFiQ SQ, sjs r it o a e ay si WiB-I I It isp'ro'per to Iobserve'at this jt-ime thatthe message tape 42 ,is of an op aqne material, ,in order that it may only light in the region o'f'its charactermformin'g perforations. Since light from the, casiiig' '6 "'can" only pass to "theftape byway of the transversely-spaced slots 13', the intermediate casinghottom portion l4 will bar f frgrn passing through the feed perforations 17, as seeiiin FIG; 2." Also, light will'be concentrated in they 4. The parallel Walls 3c remaining between the light-rods further serve as light shields between the rods. Withpartial reference to FIG. 3, where one feed perforation 17 is shown, it is to be noted that the center portion 16 of the top 3 and the center, portion 14 of the casing bottom serve the important function of preventing either direct or reflected light r ays, which might pass through the feed perforations or. cracks inthe, tape from straying onto bores Sbefore it enters therods 2, While the solid walls I in the top '3betwee n the rods will prevent light received in selectedrodsirom spreadingtoothers. Further, a cut-out fl is noted iiithe underside of the 'top 3 'in the regiondf each of rods 2. These cut-outsare arcuate, as, indicated in FIG. 1, with the Width ofeach cut-out corresponding to the diameter of the light-rod, the latter, be-

ing ,presse dand 'cernen ted,into each cut-out with the uppe end of the rod located in registration with the bore. grounded, willjenergize theselected :e1eetro ggneg' fj12 the adjacentlight-rods'. Ih traveling message signs it is often desirable to re-rtin endless loops of tape over prolonged periods of time with resultant Wear of the tape occasioned particularly because the metal feed-pins fray the feed perforations anaenlar e them. Likewise, the body orfme tape; partic lany if-of a paper base, may

developcracks or injuries which rnightfurther permit light tostray into the arealarolind the feed-perforations. Thus, the upper-light shield14 prevents th evertical rays from entering this area, while the lower solid body 16' further'preverits lateral or diagonaljraysifrorn"reaching theadjacent light rods.

Theaction ofthellight in the casing 6 in respect to the traveling message tape and the: rods]; inorder to attain the anticipated result, will now he explained. First, the

narrowdim' ension of the cross-slots 13" must be stressed as confining thelight to narrow bars as it p'ass'e's into a crossrowioftape perforations. These willjr'e'gister with their tr ailing portions in} given cross-row of bOresS and with their leading portions the'nerrt cross-row as the tape fmoves a step; as hotedi in the center portion of FIG. 5. Thisfmeans'that light will be receivedfcontin uously in any set of longitudinally-grouped tape perforations, such as would nitrite: thetop bar'of a fTf or the middle bar of an H. In cginsequence, a singl e long impulse instead of fivev successiv ones, would accomi i hQ L htQ t 'Qlt Perm tti .w tit sm s i a h; but Pi la es 'w fii l t in the ign h ra e h i her' ha d. hali h sl n at sav saldfis i s? Single P 0 afi m a as a' snp i rl aofi isratisss svli occur.

The modification Of FIGp 6 illustrates asimilar tapereader uniti mounted independently 0 f theilight' source Such unit is shown at 31, the tape at 42 :and the shield mounted by means of feet49 on a base48j andfm ninp" (n t ewn) is carr es i thehaa ri pe 11 f a s anda d egistr t on-and placem nt o the .entireunit, n he, b s with'the overhead .qrhccotiight. By spacingtheiatter rather far i above 'the en'tire unit any I objectionable. heat from the latter, is far removed from the photocells; fat the same timethe spr eadof light serves as a sou rceof general. illumination, enable the operator to start thel tape ac cu -l e y mm t e s rfo t s t o in p r e t ai e qnrvi ht e ed Wh el: The c 18 i h n cd t-. 4 to facilitatethis operation, 7

With 'referencerto the-.l-ightrresponsive.cells .1 .and28, the se'may'be ofthe photo-electric a photo-voltaic types. If the former, then. a suitable source of current and circuitry (not shown) maybe employed; but if the latter type of cell is employed and the values of the light sources are suflicient sensitive relays-20 and 28 may be employed and re e arena e w vlqp s l y i x a Source In al s? CLr l Y Q aQd flra i rh p t n fi j m l fii 'may'. b mi sq erna ves. ut

in e. re s re l om r ay e su g s ed by fl n- Whererelays arefemplt wdljthewires connect jwithth'el closedycurrentgfronijra .batteryAQinioneisicle of whichtis ne. .sidefof. the.

12:: as the contact electromagnets points are closed through the operation of the relays.

Assuming the photo-cell 23 to be photo-voltaic in principle, operation of the cell intermittently during the rotation of the shaft 24 will send a pulsating current into the coil of a relay represented by the outline 43, and the corresponding opening and closing of the relay contacts will pulsate current from the battery 44 through the relay points and the coil 29 through the medium of the conductor 45, the battery and coil being accommodated by a return ground-circuit. In FIG. 1 the dotted-line portions of the horizontal conductors 23 and 19 depict distance, and it will be noted that the relay or amplifier group 21 may be located adjacent to the transmitter, receiver or at an intermediate point. Where the relay-group 21 is located remotely from the transmitter, the lines 19 may be seven pairs of telegraph wires or in lieu of pairs, seven individual wires all having a common metallic or earthreturn circuit. While the units 20whether they be relays or amplifiersare shown as input circuits, it should be noted that the output circuits may be designed to operate when the input circuits are energized, or on the other hand, when the input circuits are de-energized. In other words, if conventional mechanical relays are employed, the armatures-when magnetically energized-may be made to open their electric contacts rather than close them. This choice is arbitrary. In reference to the magnets 1212a in the second-named patent these are depicted therein as normally energized, in which case the points of the relays 20 would normally be closed, and the presence of perforations in the tape would then act, through the medium of the photo-cells, to open the relay contacts for the release of one or more steel balls as described in the patent.

Iclaim:

1. In an electric sign system comprising a rectangular field of lamps and utilizing an opaque message tape provided with perforations selectively arranged in uniform transverse and longitudinal rows in letter formations, an uninterrupted row of feed-holes extending substantially longitudinally of the tape adjacent some of said message perforations, a feed member associated with said feedholes for moving the tape longitudinally in steps each of which corresponds to a fraction of a known letter and which fractions, when successively grouped together form known letters visibly readable directly from the tape, a plurality of light-responsive elements adjacent said feedholes and feed member and on one side of the tape, a lightproducing means on the opposite side of said tape adapted to feed light through the letter perforations therein to selectively operate the light-responsive elements, additional means adjacent to and associated with said lightproducing-means for preventing light passing through said feed holes from affecting the light-responsive elements adjacent the feed holes, a rotatable shaft, means driven thereby for selectively operating a plurality of switches connected with said lamps and adapted for receiving the signals from said light-responsive elements in fractions of a letter at a time and for storing the same to combine said fractions into complete letters, and a signal-impulse device operable by the rotation of said shaft for transmitting impulses which control the movement of said feed member to move the tape past said light-responsive elements.

2. A device of the character described comprising a field of illuminable lamps arranged in uniform longitudinal rows, circuit control means connected with said lamps for establishing predetermined character permutations representing letters moving lengthwise of said field and comprising electromagnets and a rotatable storing device having lamp switches selectable by the selective operation of said electromagnets, one for each longitudinal row of lamps, in accordance with said permutations: an opaque message tape having characters thereon made up of a plurality of successive transverse rows of impressions, a

tape-reader positioned crosswise and adjacent said tape operable to photo-optically read the transverse rows one at a time each comprising a fraction of a character and having impulse-controlled feed hole means for feeding said tape, a row of light-responsive elements disposed transversely on one side of said tape, light-producing means on the other side thereof, additional means adjacent to and associated with said light-producing means for preventing stray light from affecting the light-responsive elements adjacent the feed holes, each of said lightresponsive elements reading only a given longitudinal row of tape impressions and to control by the operation of a corresponding electromagnet only a predetermined single longitudinal row of lamps in said field, electrical impulse means operable in timed relation with the rotation of said storing device for controlling the speed of said impulse-controlled means in synchronism therewith and to move the tape past said row of light-responsive elements in fractional letter steps, and a separate relay device in connection with each of said light-responsive means and having input and output circuits, the input circuit of each relay device being connected separately to a given lightresponsive element, and the output circuit thereof being connected to a corresponding electromagnet, whereby each light-responsive element controls the illumination of a single longitudinal row of lamps in said field, a plurality of metallic telephone lines grouped together with any additional number of similar conductors which extend in a compact multiple-conductor cable, each of said first-named lines forming a remote-control connecting medium between the output circuit of each of said relay devices and each of said corresponding electromagnets and means, associated with said tape-reader and occasioned by the occurrence of longitudinally adjacent perforations in said tape, for reducing the susceptibilityto interference due to electrical reactance among said first-named telephone lines or between any of them and said additional conductors in said cable.

3. The structure of claim 2, a shaft for said rotatable storing device, a separate light-responsive element and source of light associated with said storing device, a relay device therefor having an input circuit connected to said separate light-responsive element and an output circuit adapted to operate said impulse-controlled means, and a disc carried by said shaft, rotatable therewith and having a light opening therein for controlling the operation of said impulse-controlled means by controlling light interruptions between the last named source of light and the separate light-responsive element.

4. A photo-optical tape reader for traveling message signs, comprising a longitudinal field of lamps adapted to be flashed to give the appearance of a series of alphabet letters moving thereacross, a perforated message tape havingsimilar alphabet letters directly readable thereon, a plurality of light-responsive elements arranged in a transverse row across said tape on one side thereof and adapted to read one transverse row of holes at a time which row corresponds to a fraction of each letter, electromagnetic means for moving the tape past the row of light-responsive elements, light-producing means for the latter adapted to permit the rays therefrom to pass through the letter perforations and operate the light-responsive elements, means for preventing light entering through -a given perforation in said tape and intended to affect a corresponding lightresponsive element from overlapping into a transversely adjacent light-responsive element while, at the same time, permitting light to overlap sufiiciently into longitudinally adjacent holes during the advancement of said tape to reduce the tendency towards a complete light interruption due to the space between longitudinally adjacent holes in the tape.

5. In a tape-controlled traveling message sign made up of transverse .and longitudinal rows of lamps and having a perforated message tape provided with transverse and longitudinal rows of holes arranged in readable alphabet hara ters he adi ss l e nin character, on

said tape being-separated substantially uniformly inboth directions, aphoto-optical tape-reader including a group of photoeells and having additional means therein so disposed relative to the spacial relationship between the holes whiehdefine a character on'the tape and to thecoaction of the phgtocells in response to light passing through said llOlGg-tO-lillfll-Cfih spread of light passing through transversely adjacent holes while etfectively extending such spread substantially as light is, passed; through longitudinally immediately adjacent holes to provide a condition leadi ng to a continuous indicative output from said ho s ns- 6. The structure of claim 4, and a transversely-posh tioned casing containing light-producing means and having a bottom surmounting said tape, such bottom having a pairofalinedtransverse slotswith Whichsaid transverse rows of perforations are adapted to register-in consecutive order, said means comprisingthe bottom portionbewcen a d Q 7. The structure of claim 4, wherein the tape contains alongitudinal series of feed holes along --a course between given pairs of said transverse perforations, a-transyerselypositionedcasing containing light-producing means and having; a; bottom'surmOrin-ting; said tape, such bottom havinga pair of alined transverse'slots with which said transverse rows of perforations are adapted to register in consecutive order, said means comprisingv the-bottom portion between saidslots as positioned-over said seriesoffeed holes.

8. The apparatus of claim 5*;said means adapted. to provide-an area of thealightpassing through the'holes in excess of one-sixth the area thereof.-

9. The apparatus of claim 5;,said means adapted to.

provide an area of lightpassingthrough the holes sufficiently in excessof one-sixth thearea of passage through said-holes, to minimize; objectionable sharp-cornered-sigrials.

10. The apparatus of claim 5; said means adapted to provide an area of light passing throughthe holes sufficiently inexcess of one-sixth the area of passage through saidholes, toreduce-interference occasioned by a plu rality of objectionable wave forms occurring simultaneously, during the reading of said tape, from actingcumulatively to cause interference inthe operation of said sign.

References ,Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,245,467 Kingsbury Nov. 6, 1917 1,953,072 Casper Apr. 3, 1934 1,985,044 Lyle Dec. 18, 1934 2,006,999 Nachumsohn July 2, 1935 2,382,251 Parker et a1 Aug. 14, 1945 2,724,014 Edgar-", Nov. 15, 1955 2,817,703 Naxon Dec. 24, 1957 

